higgins



Nov.' 5, 1929.

E. L. HIGGINS PERMUTATI ON LOCK Filed April 17. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l www Nov. 5, 1929. E. l.. HlGGiNs PERMUTATION LOCK Filed April 17. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 5, 1929 PATENT OFFICE EDWARD LAWRENCE HIGGINS, OF SIDCUP, ENGLAND PERMUTATION LOCK Application led April 17, 1926, Serial No. 102,681, and in Great Britain May 13, 1925. I i

This invention relates to permutation locks or the like and has for its object to provide an improved device of this character which will give a high degree of security against unauthorized manipulation.

According to the invention a combination or permutation lock is provided wherein a number of rotatable locking members mounted co-axially on a slidable element are formed with means to prevent axial movement of the slidable element which is adapted to be released and allow the lock to be opened when all the locking members occupy pre-arranged positions. According to the preferred form of the invention a number of rotatable locking members 'co-operate with a slidable element adapted to act as or engage the llocl bolt to lock the slidable element against movement in all but one prearranged position of the rotatable members which are rotated by a device in which the unlocking combination of letters or numerals can be varied at will.

Reference will now be made to the accom-- panying drawings in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a locl: constructed according to one form of the inventiOn,

Figure 2 is a section on the line A B of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on the line C D of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through a lock constructed according to another form of the invention,

Figure 5 is a section on the line E F of Figure 4, l

Figure 5A is a section similar to Figure 5 with leaf spring in section.

Figure 6 is a view showing the application of the lock shown in Figures 4 and 5 to a window frame,

Figure 7 is a section on the line Gr H of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a view in elevation showing a modified form of the lock shown in Figures 4 and 5 applied to a door, and

Figure 9 is a plan of the lock shown in Figure 8.

j 'lhelock shown in Figures 1-3 comprises two Side plates, 1, 2 secured together to form a casing which/contains a sliding bolt 3 actuated by an external handle 4 fixed to a lever 5 which has a pin and slot connection with the bolt.

The bolt 3 slides between the plate 2 and a partition plate 6 fixed in the casing, and is adapted to be locked in either of two positions by means of a sliding bar 7 which can be engaged in either of two recesses 8 formed in the bolt 3. The bar 7 is formed with a number of pins or projections 9 which engage in annular recesses in locking discs 10 which are mounted coaxially on the bar 7 between the plates 1 and 2, the pins or projections 9 being free to move through slots or apertures formed in the discs 10 when each of these discs is adjusted to bring its slot or aperture into line with the corresponding pin or proj ection 9.

The bar 7 is adapted to be actuated by an external handle 11 and in order to prevent the pins or projections 9 from being sheared by forcing the handle 11, the bar 7 is connected to the handle 11 through a coiled spring 12 which is disposed within the bar 7 and acts between one end of the bar and a piston 13 fixed to a rod 14 which carries the handle 11. The piston 13 normally bears against a block 15 fixed in the end of the bar 7 and the parts are so designed that any inward pressure applied to the handle 11 is taken through the block 15 by the bolt 3 and not by the pins or projections 9 whilst an outward pull on the handle 11 brings the shoulder 16 on the rod 14 against the bottom of a recess 17 in the plate l before the spring 12 is fully compressed. The rod 14 is rotatable in the bar 7, but the bar 7 is prevented from rotating by means of a projection 18 which engages a slot in the plate 6.

The locking discs 10 are closely fitted hetween the plates 1 and 6 and are provided each with an annular ring 2O formed with gear teeth 21 which is rotatably mounted on the locking disc 10 and carries a pawl 22 engaging ratchet teeth 19 on the locking disc.

The plate 1 carries an external cylindrical casing 23 which contains a series of rings or discs 24 equal in number to the locking discs 10 and each marked on its external surface with letters or numerals up to any desired number any one of which can be made to register With a viewing aperture in the casing 23. Each of the rings 24 is provided with internal teeth 26 in number equivalent to the, number of letters or numerals above described and adapted to engage an arm 27 fixed to a concentric rotary sh'aift 28 which is mounted to slide in bearing apertures in the ends of the casing 23 so that the arm 27 can be brought into engagement with the teeth 26 of any one of the rings 24. The inner end of the shaft 28 carries a gear 29 adapted to engage the rings 20 the teeth on which agree in nu-mberwith the numerals or the like on' the dises 24', the arrangement being such that when the gear 29 is in mesh with any one of the rings 20', thearm 2'7 is in engagement with the teeth 26 of the corresponding ring24. I'n order to prevent rot-ation of the shaft 28 when the 'gear 29 and ami 27 are in intermediete positions between adjacent rings 2O and 24 dhd f BIS'UI IJ'OII gt'LtiOI 0f lie parts,- a number' of pins 3 0 fixed to the @as ing of the look are adapted to engage betive'en the teeth ef the ,een a9 when it. is an' intermediate position betvife'en` the rings 20. The positions of the rings 24 are thu's made dependent upon the' positions oithe rings' 20. In order to facilitate the correct positioning of the* shaft 2s, uns staff is provided with a series of annu-lary recesses 3l which (1o-operate with a spring pressed plunger 3l*i adapted to hold the shaft yieldably in any one of its working positions;

The rings 20 drive the locking discs l0 in an anti-cloclwise- 4 direction (Figure l) through the paiv'l 22, and in orderto prevent reverse rotationoi the rings 2G', which 1vould cause the paivls 22 to ride on the ratchet teeth i9 on the locking discs 10, each of the rings 20 engages a spring loaded pa'ivl 32 carried by the casing of the lock. Relative rotation of the rings 2O and locking discs l() may however, be effected for the. purpose of changing the combination of the lock,l and ior this pui? pose ra crank orwcarm shaft 33 isprovided, which is journalled 1in holes in the `plates l 'and 6 and is formed at itsvout'erl end with a slot 34 to enable it to be' rotated by of a screiv driver, coin or like implement'. The shai'tr33 engages each of the paivls 32 and also engages a spring pressed plunger 35 mounted in a recess in the plate 6, and adapt ed to enter a hole 36 in the bai` 7 when the latter is in a position intermediate its eXtreme l position intermediate its eXtreme positions to bring the hole 36 in line with the plunger 35, rotation of the shaft 33 will lift the parvis 32 and press the plunger 35 into the hole 36. The operation oi' the lock is as follows Assuming that the bar 7 is locked in the position shown, to release the bar, the operator moves the indicating discs 1 24V successively by manipulating the shaft 28 so as to set up, the correct combination oi letters visible through the vapertures 25. llVhen the correct combination is thus set up, the locking discs l() Will each have been brought to a position in which its slot or aperture is in line with the corresponding pin'or projection 9 on the bar 7, thus rendering the bar 7 free to be retracted by means of the handle 1l. The bar 7 is now retracted and the bolt3i-s then moved to thel desiredposition.v In order to lock the bolt in its new position, the bar7 is moved into engagement with one of thief apertures 8 by pushing the handle il andthe combination is then broken up by moving each of the rings 24 atrandorn. It it isfnot desired to loch the bolt howevei,"tlre .coimbination may be broken up with the bar-7V in retracted position, thus 'preventingifi-inautliorized persons from locking thel bolt.

If it is desiredto change'. thev combination of the lock, the discs 24 must first be'setto the correct combination to release the bar 7. The latter can then be moved to a position intermediate its extreme positions, so that the hole 36 is in line` vviththe plunger 35.

The shaft 33 is then rotated by means'o-a coin or other convenient implement tliusflifting the pavvls 32 and pressingthe plunger35 into the hole 36 so that the bar 7 is locked vin the intermediate position. The rings 20 are now free to rotate in clockwise direction (Figure l) andca'n thus'v be'movedin'toany desired positions 'by' rotating the shaftA 28. The rings 24 however, Will be' adjustedl correspondingly, and as the pins or projections) have been brought intoengagement Witlithe slots or aperturesin the locking discs 10 any combination to which the discs 245may be set Will be the correct combination for releasing' the bar 7, when subsequently the V,shaft 33 is returned to its originalposition. When the rings 24 have been set to the desired new combination, the shaft 33 -is returnedjto its original position so that the pavvls 32 are brought into engagement with the rings-` 20 aud the plunger 35 is retracted by its springs. The bar 7 is now moved to locking or release position as desired and the combination is broken up byY manipulating the shaft 28. The plunger 35' prevents rotation of the sliavft except when the bar is in the intermediate position. Q v l Should the indicating discs 24 or easing 23 become damaged it 4may be desirable "to be able to set the discs 10l to the lcorren-t combination Without being able to see the letters on the discs 24. This may also be desired in order that the lock may be opened in the dark. In order to make this possible it is preferred to provide each of the rings 20 with one tooth 2la which is wider than the others and engages a projection21b on the corresponding pawl 32 so asto prevent the pawl from engaging between the teeth 2l at one point. When the discs l() are being adjusted the movement of .the pawls 32 can be heard and the tooth 2la and projection 2lb, by preventing movement of the pawl 32 at one point provides a silent spot which enables the discs l0 to be set by ear. This silent spot7 may conveniently be arranged to correspond with the letter z for example, so that when the operator reaches the silent spot7 he knows that the position of the disc 10 under adjustment corresponds to the position of the disc 24 in which the letter s is showing. He then has only to count the letters or numbers by the clicks of the pawl 32 to set the disc 20 to the correct position without being able to see the indications on the disc 24.

In the form of construction shown in Figure 4 the lock comprises a barrel or casing 37 containing a non-rotatable sliding bolt 38 formed with pins or projections 39 which engage in annular recesses in a number of locking discs 40 each of which is formed with a slot or aperture 41 through which the pins 39 are tree to move when each ot the discs 4() is adjusted to bring its slot or aperture into line with the corersponding pin.

The discs 40 are freely rotatable on the bolt 38 and are closely fitted between the ends of the barrel 37 and each disc carries a ring 42 t one of these rings being` shown in elevation in Figure 4) which is rotatable on the disc but is frictionally held in an adjusted position with respect to the disc by means of a lear1 spring 44A which engages in an annular groove 44 formed in the outer cylindrical surface of the disc. Each of the flanged members is provided with a milled portion 45 whereby it can be rotated by hand through a slot 46 in the casing and carries a number of numerals or other markings 47 which cooperate with viewing apertures 48 in the barrel 37. The rings 42 are further formed with sallow grooves 49 which engage the ends of spring pressed plungers 50 carried by the barrel 37 and serving to hold the members 42 yieldably in any position in which one of the numerals 47 is correctly positioned in register with the corresponding viewing aperture 48.

In operation the bolt 38 is normally prevented from axial movement by the engagement of the pins 39 in the annular recess of the discs 40, but when the discs are adjusted t0 show the right combination of numbers through the viewing aperture 48 the pins 39 are free to move through the slots 4l in the disc 40 and the bolt 38 can therefore be moved axially. The bolt has two extreme positions in which the pins 39 engage in the annular recesses in the discs 40, but when the members 42 are set to the correct combination the bolt can be moved to an intermediate position in which each of the slots 41 in the disc 40 engages one of the pins 39 on the bolt 38. It the bolt is held in this position, rotation ot the rings 42 by hand will not cause the discs 40 to rotate but will bring the members 42 into new positions with respect to the discs 40. The combination required to release the bolt can therefore be changed at will.

Figures 6 and 7 show a lock similar to that shown in Figure 4, applied to a casei Aent window. ylfhe barrel 37, which is similar to that described with reference to Figure 4, is iormed integral with a bracket 5l which is secured to the` frame et the window 52 by means oit a bolt 53 and screws 54. The bolt 38 ot the lock engages in a socket or keeper 55 secured in the window frame.

rIhe lock shown in Figures 8 and 9 comprises a casing 56 adapted to be fitted to or morticed in a door 57, and containing a sliding bolt 58 formed with a wedge surface 59 adapted to co-operate with a corresponding surface onv a keeper (not shown) in the door 'trame so that the bolt is actuated automatically when the door is closed in the well knowy manner. rlhe bolt is normally held in the position shown in the drawings, by means oit a leatl spring GO disposed in the casing 56 and is controlled by a h and lever 6l tulcrumed to the door at 62 and connected to the bolt 58 through a slot G3 in the casing 56. A barrel 37 similar to that described with reference to Figure 4 is a secured in to the casing 5G and contains 'a bolt 38 which can be moved into or out of the path ot the bolt 58 so as to lock this bolt in the position shown in the drawings or to iermit it to be moved against the action ot the spring 60.

Although a number et diiierent applications ot locks constructed according to the invention are shown, it to be understood that the invention is not limited to these applications and that permutation or combination locks according to the invention can be designed or adapted to any of the many dil'lierent purposes for which such locks commonly are or may be employed. Moreover the construction of the lock prop-er may also be varied in many ways.

l. A combination or permutation lock.y including a bolt, a slidable element, a plurality ot rotatable locking members mounted coaxially thereon, means tor permitting axial movement. of said element in and out/oi engagement with said bolt in pre-arranged positions of said locking members, a series of rotary indicating members, and a rotary actuating member axially adjustable to bring it into engagement with any one oi' said locking members and simultaneously with the corresponding one ot said indicating members; whereby the .positions of the locking members are. made dependent upon the posi-` tions of the indicating members.y

2.` A lock;` according to claim l, wherein said indicating members are visible through the casing ot the lock and adapted to be actuated by hand through a slot provided in said casing.l

. 3. A lock according to claim l, including an external actu-'ating member and a resilient connection between theA same and:` said sliding element..

4. A combination or permutation lock., including a bolt, a slidable element, a plurality of rotatable locking members mounted coaxiallfy7 thereon, means for permitting axial movement of said element in and out of engagement with said bolt in prearranged posit-ions of said locking members, a series otk rotary indicating members, and a rotary actuating device axially adjustable to interconnect corresponding uni-ts of said locking and indicating members, and means for securing said locking members against rotation While rearranging the combination.

5. A combination or permutation lock, including a bolt, a slidable element, a plurality of rotatable locking members mounted coaxially thereon, means for permitting axial movement of said element in and out of engagement with said bolt in prearranged positions of said locking members, a series ot rotary indicating members, and a rotary actuating device axially adjustable to interconnect corresponding units of said locking and indicating members, andV ratchet mechanism interposed between said actuating device and Said locking members to secure the latter against rotation While permitting rotation 'of said actuating device for changing the combination of the lock rotation of said device.

6. A combination lock according to claim V5, including means for locking said slidable element in a position in which pins of said element engage slots in said locking members Vto secure the latter against rotation.

7. A lock according to claim 5, including pawls for normally securing said locking members against rotation in one direction, a cam for releasing said pawls, and a plunger adapted to engage the lock bolt While in intermediate position.

8. A lock according to claim l, wherein said locking members carry indicating mem bers which are rotatably' mounted on the locking members and are held frictionally in adjusted positions With respect to such locking members in such a manner that the combination of the lock can be changed by rotating the indicating members on the locking members when the slotsv or recesses in the locking members arer in engagement with the pins ofr projecting on the sliding rod or bar.

9;. A permutation or combination lock comp-risinga casing, a sliding bolt mounted in said. casing, a sliding rod or bar mounted in saidzcasingfand adapted to be: moved into and outyof engagement with said bolt by means of an external actuating handle, a number of locking members rotatably mounted coaXia-lg ly on saidsliding rod o1 bar and provided with slots or recesses cofoperating.- with pins or project-ions on said bar, a settingy device for setting: said locking members provided with an external actuating handle andV adapted to actuate indicating devices whose positions are made dependent upon the positions of said locking discs.

In Witness whereof I aiiix my s-ifmataire.`

EDWARD LAWRENCE HI l(HNS. 

